Following a complaint from the Metro Rail authorities, a probe was launched into the job racket and five persons, including S Palraj (54), the alleged mastermind, and a woman Rajathi, were arrested from a hotel here yesterday and interrogated, they said.

The probe revealed that about Rs 2 crore was collected in cash and cheque from 100 youngsters by promising them jobs in Chennai Metro Rail.

Based on the job profile, money ranging from Rs 15-20 lakh was collected from the aspirants.

The five persons were later produced before a court which remanded them to judicial custody. They have been lodged in Puzhal Central Prison, police said.